TOUCH PANEL AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME
Disclosed herein is a touch panel, including: a transparent substrate; a transparent electrode made of a conductive polymer and formed on one surface of the transparent substrate; an anisotropic conductive adhesion layer formed on an edge of the transparent electrode; and an electrode formed on the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer and electrically connected with the transparent electrode by the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer. The touch panel is advantageous in that the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer is disposed between the transparent electrode and the electrode, so that the chemical reaction between the transparent electrode and the electrode can be prevented, with the result that the resistance between the transparent electrode and the electrode can be maintained constant and the change in physical properties of the transparent electrode can be prevented.
Latest Samsung Electronics Patents:
- Organic electroluminescence device and heterocyclic compound for organic electroluminescence device
- Video decoding method and apparatus, and video encoding method and apparatus
- Organic light-emitting device
- Security device including physical unclonable function cells, operation method of security device, and operation method of physical unclonable function cell device
- Case for mobile electronic device
This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0075005, filed on Aug. 3, 2010, entitled “Touch panel and a manufacturing method the same”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a touch panel and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Development of auxiliary computer devices has taken place alongside the advancement of computers which use digital technology. Personal computers, portable transmitters, and other personal information processing apparatuses carry out the processing of text and graphics using input devices such as keyboards, mice and the like.
However, since computers are gradually being used for various purposes alongside the rapid advance of the information society, there is a problem in that it is difficult to efficiently operate the computers using keyboards and mice which serve as input devices. Therefore, the demand to develop an input device which has a simple structure and does not cause erroneous operations and which can be used to easily input information and data by users is increasing.
Further, input devices must have high reliability, high durability, high innovativeness and high workability in addition to general functionality. In order to accomplish these purposes, a touch panel was developed as an input device capable of inputting information such as text, graphics and the like.
The touch panel is mounted on image display apparatuses, such as flat panel displays including electronic notebooks, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), plasma display panels (PDPs), electroluminescence panels, etc., and cathode ray tubes (CRTs), and is used to enable users to select desired information while viewing an image display apparatus.
Meanwhile, touch panels are classified into resistive touch panels, capacitive touch panels, electromagnetic touch panels, surface acoustic wave (SAW) type touch panels, and infrared touch panels. These various types of touch panels are employed in electronic products in consideration of the problem of signal amplification, the differences of resolution, the difficulty in design and machining techniques, optical characteristics, electrical characteristics, mechanical characteristics, environment-resistant characteristics, input characteristics, durability, and economical efficiency. Currently, among these touch panels, resistive touch panels and capacitive touch panels are the most widely used.
However, conventional resistive touch panels and capacitive touch panels are problematic in that the performance of the touch panels is deteriorated by the chemical reaction between a transparent electrode recognizing touch and a silver (Ag) electrode receiving electrical signals from the transparent electrode. In detail, a solvent included in the silver (Ag) electrode reacts with the transparent electrode made of indium tin oxide (ITO), so that the resistance between the transparent electrode and the silver (Ag) electrode is increased and the physical properties of the transparent electrode are changed, thereby deteriorating the performance of the touch panels. Moreover, conventional resistive touch panels and capacitive touch panels are problematic in that adhesion between the transparent electrode and the silver (Ag) electrode is low, so that the silver (Ag) electrode easily becomes separated from the transparent electrode, thereby deteriorating the durability of the touch panels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, the present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the present invention provides a touch panel which can prevent a chemical reaction from occurring between a transparent electrode and an electrode and which can prevent the electrode from becoming separated from the transparent electrode by employing an anisotropic conductive layer, and a method of manufacturing the same.
An aspect of the present invention provides a touch panel, including: a transparent substrate; a transparent electrode made of a conductive polymer and formed on one surface of the transparent substrate; an anisotropic conductive adhesion layer formed on an edge of the transparent electrode; and an electrode formed on the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer and electrically connected with the transparent electrode by the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer.
Here, the conductive polymer may include poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene/polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT/PSS), polyaniline, polyacetylene, and polyphenylenevinylene.
Further, the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer may be formed using an anisotropic conductive film (ACF) or an anisotropic conductive adhesive (ACA).
Further, the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer may serve to prevent the transparent electrode and the electrode from directly coming into contact with each other.
Further, the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer may be integrally formed such that it comes into contact with a plurality of patterns of the transparent electrode, and may have electrical conductivity only in a direction perpendicular to the transparent electrode.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a touch panel, including: forming a transparent electrode made of a conductive polymer on one surface of a transparent substrate; forming an anisotropic conductive adhesion layer on an edge of the transparent electrode; and forming an electrode on the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer such that the electrode is electrically connected with the transparent electrode by the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer.
Here, in the forming of the transparent electrode, the conductive polymer may include poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene/polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT/PSS), polyaniline, polyacetylene, and polyphenylenevinylene.
Further, in the forming of the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer, the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer may be formed by applying an anisotropic conductive film (ACF).
Further, in the forming of the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer, the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer may be formed by screen-printing an anisotropic conductive adhesive (ACA).
Further, in the forming of the electrode, the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer may serve to prevent the transparent electrode and the electrode from directly coming into contact with each other.
Further, the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer may be integrally formed such that it comes into contact with a plurality of patterns of the transparent electrode, and may have electrical conductivity only in a direction perpendicular to the transparent electrode.
Various objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The terms and words used in the present specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to typical meanings or dictionary definitions, but should be interpreted as having meanings and concepts relevant to the technical scope of the present invention based on the rule according to which an inventor can appropriately define the concept of the term to describe the best method he or she knows for carrying out the invention.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted. Further, in the description of the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the related art would obscure the gist of the present invention, the description thereof will be omitted.
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.
As shown in
The transparent substrate 105 serves to provide a region for forming the transparent electrodes 110, the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer 120 and the electrodes 130. Therefore, the transparent substrate 105 must be durable such that it can support the transparent electrodes 110, the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer 120 and the electrodes 130 and must be transparent such that users can recognize the images supplied from an image display apparatus. Considering the durability and transparency, the transparent substrate 105 may be made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyether sulfone (PES), cycloolefin copolymer (COC), triacetylcellulose (TAC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyimide (PI), polystyrene (PS), K-resin-containing biaxially-oriented polystyrene (BOPS), glass, reinforced glass, or the like, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Meanwhile, one surface of the transparent substrate 105 may be high-frequency-treated or primer-treated in order to improve adhesion between the transparent substrate 105 and the transparent electrodes 110.
The transparent electrodes 110, which serve to enable a controller to recognize touch coordinates by generating signals when users touch them, are formed on one surface of the transparent substrate 105. Here, the transparent electrodes 110 may be made of a conductive polymer having excellent flexibility and coatability as well as commonly-used indium tin oxide (ITO). The conductive polymer may include poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene/polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT/PSS), polyaniline, polyacetylene, polyphenylenevinylene, and the like. Meanwhile, in drawings, the transparent electrodes 110 are shown to have bar patterns 113 and 115, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the transparent electrodes 110 may be formed over the entire active region, or may have any kind of pattern known in the related field, such as lozenge patterns, circular patterns and the like.
The anisotropic conductive adhesion layer 120 serves to electrically connect the transparent electrode 110 with the electrodes 130 and to prevent a chemical reaction from occurring between the transparent electrodes 110 and the electrodes 130. That is, the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer 120 is disposed between the transparent electrodes 110 and the electrode 130, so that it is possible to prevent the transparent electrodes 110 and the electrode 130 from directly coming into contact with each other, thereby preventing the occurrence of a chemical reaction between the transparent electrodes 110 and the electrodes 130. Since the chemical reaction between the transparent electrodes 110 and the electrodes 130 does not occur, it is possible to maintain the resistance between the transparent electrodes 110 and the electrodes 130 constant, and it is possible to prevent the physical properties of the transparent electrodes 110 from being changed by the presence of a solvent and the like included in the electrodes 130. Further, since the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer 120 itself has strong adhesivity, it is possible to prevent the electrodes 130 from becoming separated therefrom, so that a touch panel 100 having excellent durability can be realized.
Meanwhile, referring to
Further, referring to
The electrodes 130, which serve to receive electrical signals form the transparent electrodes 110, are formed on the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer 120. Here, as described above, the electrodes 130 must be electrically connected with the transparent electrodes 110 through the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer 120 because the chemical reaction occurs when the electrodes 130 directly come into contact with the transparent electrodes 110. Here, the electrodes 130 may be made of silver paste or organic silver having high electrical conductivity, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the electrodes 130 may also be made of conductive polymers, carbon black (including CNT), metal oxides such as ITO, or low-resistance metals. Further, it is shown in the drawings that each of the electrodes 130 is connected to both ends of each of the transparent electrodes 110 (refer to
As shown in
First, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Meanwhile, the electrodes 130 may be formed using screen printing, gravure printing, inkjet printing or the like. That is, the electrodes 130 are formed on the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer 120, and then the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer 120 is pressed such that it has electrical conductivity in a direction to perpendicular to the transparent electrodes 110. In this case, when the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer 120 is formed of an anisotropic conductive film (ACF), it may be pressed by a pressure of 1˜5 Mpa, and when the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer 120 is formed of an anisotropic conductive adhesive (ACA), it may be pressed by a pressure of 2˜4 Mpa. Further, the anisotropic conductive film (ACF) or anisotropic conductive adhesive (ACA) may be heated to 100˜150 to be cured at low temperature or may be heated to 200 or higher to be rapidly cured.
As shown in
As shown in
Since each of the touch panels 200, 300 and 400 according to another embodiment of the present invention also includes the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer 120 disposed between the transparent electrodes 110 and the electrodes 130, the chemical reaction between the transparent electrodes 110 and the electrodes 130 can be prevented, so that the resistance between the transparent electrodes 110 and the electrodes 130 can be maintained constant and the change in physical properties of the transparent electrodes 110 can be prevented.
As described above, the touch panel according to the present invention is advantageous in that the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer is disposed between the transparent electrodes and the electrodes, so that the chemical reaction between the transparent electrodes and the electrodes can be prevented, with the result that the resistance between the transparent electrodes and the electrodes can be maintained constant and the change in physical properties of the transparent electrodes can be prevented.
Further, the touch panel according to the present invention is advantageous in that the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer itself has strong adhesivity, so that it is possible to prevent the electrodes from becoming separated therefrom, thereby realizing a touch panel having excellent durability.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. Simple modifications, additions and substitutions of the present invention belong to the scope of the present invention, and the specific scope of the present invention will be clearly defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A touch panel, comprising:
- a transparent substrate;
- a transparent electrode made of a conductive polymer and formed on one surface of the transparent substrate;
- an anisotropic conductive adhesion layer formed on an edge of the transparent electrode; and
- an electrode formed on the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer and electrically connected with the transparent electrode by the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer.
2. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the conductive polymer includes poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene/polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT/PSS), polyaniline, polyacetylene, and polyphenylenevinylene.
3. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer is formed using an anisotropic conductive film (ACF) or an anisotropic conductive adhesive (ACA).
4. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer serves to prevent the transparent electrode and the electrode from directly coming into contact with each other.
5. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer is integrally formed such that it comes into contact with a plurality of patterns of the transparent electrode, and has electrical conductivity only in a direction perpendicular to the transparent electrode.
6. A method of manufacturing a touch panel, comprising:
- forming a transparent electrode made of a conductive polymer on one surface of a transparent substrate;
- forming an anisotropic conductive adhesion layer on an edge of the transparent electrode; and
- forming an electrode on the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer such that the electrode is electrically connected with the transparent electrode by the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer.
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein, in the forming of the transparent electrode, the conductive polymer includes poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene/polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT/PSS), polyaniline, polyacetylene, and polyphenylenevinylene.
8. The method according to claim 6, wherein, in the forming of the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer, the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer is formed by applying an anisotropic conductive film (ACF).
9. The method according to claim 6, wherein, in the forming of the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer, the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer is formed by screen-printing an anisotropic conductive adhesive (ACA).
10. The method according to claim 6, wherein, in the forming of the electrode, the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer serves to prevent the transparent electrode and the electrode from directly coming into contact with each other.
11. The method according to claim 6, wherein the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer is integrally formed such that it comes into contact with a plurality of patterns of the transparent electrode, and has electrical conductivity only in a direction perpendicular to the transparent electrode.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 8, 2010
Publication Date: Feb 9, 2012
Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD. (Gyunggi-do)
Inventors: Jae Il Kim (Gyunggi-do), Yong Soo Oh (Gyunggi-do), Jong Young Lee (Gyunggi-do), Woon Chun Kim (Gyunggi-do)
Application Number: 12/901,389
International Classification: G06F 3/045 (20060101); B31B 1/62 (20060101); B05D 5/12 (20060101);